Jonathan Drouin was proud. With reason. His golf tournament had just raised $1,163,626 for the Fondation du CHUM. It is therefore with a smile that the Canadian striker appeared at the microphone of Mario Langlois, Tuesday, for a 20-minute interview.
Posted at 7:45 a.m.
The facilitator of Sports enthusiasts asked him about his wrist surgery. On the identity of the future captain of the club. On Martin St-Louis, under whose orders Drouin only played two games, before being injured.
“Do you feel that [Martin] want to help you? asked Langlois.
” Yes. I’m not worried. I have rarely had a coach capable of coaching individually like that. Every player is different. He sees you like that. I’m not like the guy next to me. We have different qualities. I think Martin is able to see that with a good eye. »
A smooth, smooth, smooth response. Like the ice of a lake in February.
The site Dans Les Coulisses made an article about it. Again, smooth, smooth, smooth content. DLC relayed it to the 100,000 followers of its Facebook account. And then it got bumpy.
“Taylee. »
“Let him close his big eye. »
“Get rid of Drouin. »
“Describe. »
“Could be able to hear it, ham criss.” »
“Already begins to lich in August. »
“Dewors the yellow. »
“Drouin again. Let him close it and focus on his mind. »
I stop here. It gives a good idea of the tone of the conversation, which stretches over hundreds of comments. For the uninitiated, I specify that Jonathan Drouin did not commit any misconduct. It doesn’t kill baby seals either. On the contrary. Instead, he’s just helped a Montreal hospital foundation raise over $1.1 million, and he’s trying to get back into the game after major surgery…
When in history did it become socially acceptable to post such insults? To take a megaphone to shout “Decrisse”, “Crisse de Jamon” or “Dewors le jaune”? To unfurl a banner in a stadium, on which it is written “Décâlisse Gilmore”?
The Canadiens’ new defender, Michael Matheson, has already received death threats on social media following a body check against a Vancouver Canucks player. Maxime Comtois, of the Anaheim Ducks, received invitations to suicide on Instagram after missing a penalty shot at the World Junior Championship. It spanks.
These messages can have consequences. Canadian tennis player Rebecca Marino quit competition for nearly five years, due to bullying on social media. QMJHL coaches have confided to me that they picked up 16 or 17 year old players with a teaspoon, because of comments published on the web.
When did we get here? And how ?
I understand that a fan can hate a hockey player. Lament his style of play. His lack of effort. His individualism. Regretting his decision making. To be sorry to see him miss empty nets repeatedly. No problem with that. Except that these criticisms must be formulated with respect and civility. Yes, it is possible — and not very complicated.
But the fakes fans, they don’t care about social conventions. From the scope of their words. the well-being of others. The insult is the weapon of the weak? Not in their eyes. The more vulgar their message, the more satisfied they are. The more they use the word “crisse”, the brighter they feel. Even if they are unable to write it without fail.
Am I playing their game by publishing their words?
No. In the face of bullying, it is better to act than to remain silent.
I’ve been dealing with situations like this for about ten years. First as a newspaper boss, then as a columnist. From experience, when the barbarians of the web are exposed, their courage flies away. They go into defensive mode. Their great classic: using their mirror, and blaming the media. In sports, it’s like accusing journalists of chasing star players from Montreal.
Hmmm…
Every day I read The Press. The Journal of Montreal. The Athletic. The Gazette. I listen to sports news at Cogeco, BPM Sports, TVA Sports, RDS and Radio-Canada. Yes, the journalists assigned to the coverage are capable of criticizing the players. But no, they don’t attack them. They don’t vilify them. They don’t humiliate them. You will never hear Renaud, Marc-André or Luc say “tayeule”, “débarrasse” or “dewors le jaune” to a player. No more than Richard, Guillaume and Simon-Olivier will go after an injured player, or who is coming back from an operation, for example.
The problem is not the journalists.
Those are the hooligans from the web.
And unfortunately, as long as Facebook and Twitter prefer to develop algorithms to push toaster ads at us, rather than pull out the weeds growing in their backyards, we’ll be stuck with them.